Disney Musicals in Schools

Eligible schools apply through a grant-based application. Paper Mill reviews submissions, conducts follow-up interviews with selected applicants, and ultimately chooses a limited number of recipients each year.

Please note: Recipient schools will receive various levels of support over a period of three years. Since the goal of the program is to build sustainable theatre programs, applications from schools that have participated in the program within the last five years will not be considered.

Disney Musicals in Schools presents a special opportunity to introduce the collaborative art of musical theatre to your school, strengthen your arts programming, and develop partnerships among students, faculty, staff, and the greater community.

Selected schools will receive:

• Free performance license to a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical (available shows include 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, The Aristocats, Finding Nemo, Frozen, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Winnie the Pooh)
• Free ShowKit materials, including a director’s guide, student scripts, accompaniment and rehearsal tracks, choreography videos, and cross-curricular activities.
• Free weekly 90-mimute in-school visits from a team of two Paper Mill Playhouse Teaching Artists to train and guide your team throughout the process.
• Lastly, the selected schools will participate in a culminating Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share Celebration. At this event, each school will share selections from its production at Paper Mill Playhouse.

The primary goal of the first year is to produce a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical involving 3rd-5th graders both on and off stage. This is a big project that requires participating schools to:

• Identify a School Team comprising at least three teachers and staff members, who will partner with the Paper Mill Playhouse Teaching Artists and oversee and manage the program from beginning to end. The selected School Team will receive on-site support from a team of two Paper Mill Playhouse Teaching Artists who will visit the school each week. The School Team will also run a 90-minute rehearsal on their own once each week.
• Commit to a full semester of rehearsal /production in an after-school setting.
• Host a site visit for the selection team during the application process.
• Provide space, time, materials, and resources for students and the School Team to rehearse and prepare for the musical production.
• Provide opportunities for the whole school, parents, and larger community to be connected to the production.
• Hold a minimum of one public performance of the musical.
• Participate in the culminating Student Share event at Paper Mill Playhouse, and provide transportation for participating students.

Performance rights, ShowKit materials, Professional Development, and onsite Teaching Artist support will be provided at no charge to selected schools. Selected schools will be responsible for a production budget. Disney KIDS Musicals are designed to be produced inexpensively and have been successfully mounted within a budget of $300-$1500. Paper Mill Playhouse Teaching Artists will work to maximize the school’s production budget by using reclaimed and existing materials, such as cardboard boxes and t-shirts brought from home. Any additional costs, such as after-school payments for school staff, will be the school’s responsibility.

The program delivers professional development to school teams so they can sustain theater productions independently in future years. After the initial year of participation, teachers are equipped with in-depth training and support to maintain and grow their programs year after year.

Second Year: Graduated schools receive renewed performance rights, a standard ShowKit, and continued professional development.

Third Year: Graduated schools receive a discounted ShowKit and continued professional development opportunities—even if their next performance isn’t a Disney musical, as long as they continue producing musical theater.